Your gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. Ensuring the health of your gut and achieving the right balance of microorganisms is essential for an already healthy immunity, mental health, physical health, and so much more. Your gut microbiome (often called gut flora) includes trillions of viruses, yeasts, and bacteria. Several microbes are beneficial for your health, and some are considered essential. Are you searching for ways to maintain your stomach health? If so, keep reading.
Probiotics and Fermented Foods
If you want to maintain the beneficial bacteria in your gut, taking a probiotic supplement is recommended. You can purchase these at drug stores, online, or health food stores.
Taking probiotics regularly helps support a healthy gut microbiome.Â
If you prefer a natural source of probiotics, try adding fermented foods to your diet. These include things like fermented vegetables, kombucha, kimchi, kefir, and others.
Consume Fewer Sweeteners and Sugar
In order to support your healthy gut, it is important to limit too much artificial sweetener or sugar. This is crucial to maintain your healthy balance of gut microbes.
The standard Western diet, which is full of fat and sugar, isn’t one to typically support your healthy microbiome, which impacts behavior and the brain. Also, aspartame, which is an artificial sweetener, has the same effect.Â
Consider limiting artificial sweeteners to support your glucose levels and gut flora. Even though there is no sugar, they can increase your blood sugar.
Reduce Stress
Managing and reducing occasional stress is important for several areas of your, including your gut health. Some psychological stressors may impact the microorganisms in your intestines, even in situations where stress is only short-term.
Several types of stressors may impact your gut health. These things include:
- Circadian rhythm disruption
- Psychological stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Environmental stressors
You can use stress management techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation to help reduce these things. Also, stress can be reduced by eating a healthy diet, taking the best gut health supplements, sleeping well, and exercising regularly.
Avoid the Unnecessary Use of Antibiotics
While it is sometimes necessary to take antibiotics to overcome bacterial infections, if you overuse them, you may develop antibiotic resistance.
Sometimes, antibiotics can damage your gut microbiota and immunity, too, since doctors in the U.S. prescribe 30% of antibiotics unnecessarily. Because of this, it is a good idea to talk about alternatives to antibiotics with your doctor.
Get Regular Exercise
Exercising daily will help improve heart health and lead to weight maintenance and weight loss. Some research has indicated it can help improve gut health, which may be beneficial in preventing obesity.
Working out can help increase species diversity. Experts recommend engaging in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week and muscle-strengthening activities for two or more days per week.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Getting enough good quality sleep will help to improve gut health and to maintain Stomach Health, cognition, and mood.
Irregular sleep habits and cases of disturbed sleep may have negative outcomes for your gut flora, which can increase the risk for inflammatory conditions. Put effort into developing healthy sleep habits. One way to do this is having set times when you go to bed and wake up. It’s also important to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep per night.
As you can see, there are more than a few ways you can improve your gut health. Now is the time to take steps to do this, as it will also help with your overall health and wellness. You can also speak to your doctor about other steps you can take to improve gut health and feel better. Being informed is the first step.
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